Ellen Percy; or, The Memoirs of an Actress — page 232: what you’re looking at

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ELLEN PERCY; OR, THE MEMOIRS OF AN ACTRESS. which, though it had lasted but a few minutes, | _ was painful enough? _ There was a long interval of silence; and it was broken by a repetition of the most grateful expressions and affectionate assurances towards myself. I described how the confession of Luigi had been elicited — but without compromising Zarah by name, or speaking of her otherwise than as a young female in whom I was interested, and who had consented to sacrifice her own feelings somewhat in order to accomplish the task which I had entrusted to her. On taking my leave of Beatrice and her relations, it was with a sense of the supremest satisfaction in having been enabled to minister to their happiness. On the following day I called at an early hour upon Zarah; for I was anxious to learn whether Luigi had reappeared, ahd also whether the Count of Carboni had indicated a continuance of a morbid state of excitement. In respect to the first point I learnt that the perfidious valet had not shown himself at the house since he fled on the preceding day: but as for the Count, he had returned thither after his visit with me to the mansion of the Marquis—he had ordered his effects to be packed up—and he had suddenly de- parted, Zarah knew not whither. I thence proceeded to the house of the Mar- quis; and there important tidings awaited me. A solicitor had called at the mansion about half- an-hour previously: he had inquired for the Countess of Carboni; and he had placed in her hands a deed which he said her husband had in- structed him to draw up with all possible despatch. Its purport was to make over to Beatrice at least nine-tenths of his large fortune; so that while the Count thus suddenly enriched his wife, he retained for himself a very moderate income. The deed invested her with the possession of all the Count’s Italian domains, with the’one excep- tion of the chateau and estate of Carboni in the south of Tuscany near the Roman frontier. Haying made Beatrice acquainted with the out- lines of the deed, the solicitor had informed her that his lordship her husband intended to retire altogether from the world and bury himself in some remote seclusion. Such was the intelligence which awaited me. I farther learnt that Beatrice had at first hesitated to accept the deed from the solicitor’s hands; but that her scruples were overruled by the represen- tations of her sister and her brother-in-law, who made her comprehend that there was no necessity for her to refuse this proof of her husband’s pro- found sorrow for the past and of his anxiety to make eyery possible atonement. CHAPTER XXXIX. MARY GLENTWORTH, Upwarps of three months passed from the inci- Gents which I have just been relating, It was now verging towards the close of June in the year 1841; and I was nineteen years of age. Ten months had elapsed since the mock-marriage which had afforded Juliet a temporary happiness, and had subsequently plunged her into so much rer er OC CL I A I TSA, 219 misery. The time was close at hand when she was to become a mother. There was likewise now a vacation in the theatrical world; and I received a very kind letter from Mrs. Oldcastle, requesting me to spend it at River House. She intimated that she would thereby not merely enjoy the plea- sure of my society, but that Juliet would have her dearest friend near her in the hour of her trial. Mr. Norman received at the same time a letter from Mrs. Oldcastle, suggesting that it would be more expedient for himself and his wife to con- tinue to keep away from the abode where their daughter had found a home, as their presence at River House would only multiply the chances of Juliet’s identity being discovered. +For aft that house and in that neighbourhood she was passing under the name of Mrs. Hall—a hint having been dropped that her husband was abroad. In consequence of these letters, if was agreed that Mr.and Mrs. Norman should go and pass the vacation at their favourite watering-place, Rams- gate ; while I was to repair to River House. I did not exactly know what to do with Beda: I did not like to leave her alone with the servants in Hunter Street; I did not choose to consign her to the care of Zarah, for fear lest the gipsy’s old grandmother should chance to behold her there, and repenting of having lost her, endeavour to entice her away again; and I did not of course feel inclined to take her with me to River House, unless with the consent of Mrs. Oldcastle. I had every faith in Beda’s sincerity as well as kindness of disposition: but still L saw that it would be improper to intrust her with Juliet’s secret. The difficulty was however solved by Mr. and Mrs, Norman volunteering to take her with them to Ramsgate. | Beda was much distressed when I told her that we must temporarily separate; and though I spoke most kindly to her, yet she fell at my feet; and with the tears standing in her large lustrous eyes, she asked in a voice tremulous with emotion whether I had any reason to be displeased with her ? I embraced the poor girl,—assuring her that during the four months she had been in my ser- vice, I had never once regretted our acquaintance —that I was sorry to part with her even for a few weeks—but that 1 was going to stay witha lady who was very particular, and who did not like to have strangers in her household. Beda was comforted ; and she agreed to follow Mr. and Mrs, Norman to Ramsgate. But there was another matter of even greater importance, which at first gave me some little difficulty and uneasiness. I received Mrs, Oldcastle’s kind letter, the post brought me an affectionate and joyously written one from Henry Wakefield. The business which had so long detained him in the United States, was verging towards its completion: he had suc- ceeded in recovering all the moneys due to Mr. Macdonald, the Paisley manufacturer ; and it wag his intention to return to his native country with the least possible delay. He farther informed me that on his arrival at Liverpool, he should as a matter of course in the first instance repair to Paisley, where he hoped to find letters from me; but that the very instant he had settled his ac- counts with Mr. Macdonald, he should speed to At the very time that - Gomichboo 6S Com